Purpose

To seek delegated authority to the Executive
Director for Adults and Communities and Executive Director Children
& Public Health in consultation with the respective Portfolio
Holders:
1. To award the All-Age Carers Support services contract to the
successful tenderer from the 1st April 2026 for an initial period
of three years with an option to extend for a further period of two
years.
2. To issue extensions to this contract following its award. Such
authority includes finalising any negotiations and entering into
legal agreement for service provision from 1st April 2026 to 31st
March 2031 (if necessary) until a subsequent contract is
procured/awarded.

Content

The Cabinet Member
for (Social Care and Healthier Communities) agrees:
 
1.    
To award the All-Age Carers Support Service contract to the
successful provider identified in accordance with the outcome of
the procurement exercise, for an initial 3-year term (with option
to extend for 2 years) at a maximum total value of
£1,257,065.
2.    
To delegate the award of the contract (at 2.1 of the report) to
the Executive Director for Adult and Communities and Executive
Director for Children and Public Health to finalise and authorise
the entering into of all necessary documentation to facilitate the
award and /or extension of any contract. 
 

Reasons for the decision

The proposed decision is driven the local
authority’s requirement to commission statutory support
services for all age carers under the following legislations.
 

·      
The Care Act 2014 specifically requires local authorities to assess
the needs of adult carers, identify their wellbeing needs, and
provide support where eligible. This includes offering information,
advice, and services to help carers maintain their own health and
wellbeing.

·      
Children Act 1989 and Children and Families Act 2014 ensure that
young carers (under 18) are identified, assessed, and provided with
the support they need, preventing them from undertaking
inappropriate levels of care that could impact their education,
health, or development.
 
A carer is anyone who looks after, gives help
or support, unpaid, to family members, friends, neighbours, or
others because of long-term physical or mental ill health,
disability, substance misuse, or challenges related to old age.
Carers are identified by the support they provide, not by whether
they live with the person they care for.
 
Carers play a crucial role in preventing the
need for formal, paid care and support for the individuals they
assist. This role is often highly demanding, both physically and
mentally. Despite the challenges, many carers do not view their
responsibilities as burdensome, but rather as a natural duty driven
by love and respect for their family members and friends. Carers
are not defined solely by their caregiving responsibilities; they
are, first and foremost, parents, siblings, relatives, and friends.
Caring is one of many roles they fulfil, rather than their primary
identity.
 
Carers First were awarded the contract for the
delivery of the Carers Support Service on 1st October 2021, and it
expires on 31st March 2026. This service providers a
single point of coordination for carers in Southend, providing
general and tailored information, advice, guidance, and support to
carers. The service also provides support carers to take ad hoc
appointment breaks from their caring role and to access necessary
appointments.
 
With the current Carers Support Service
contract ending, there is an opportunity to use information from
the Southend-on-Sea Carers Survey and wider research to commission
a new contract that better meets the diverse needs of carers in
Southend-on-Sea.
 
Carers First was originally commissioned to
provide support exclusively for adult carers. However, in June
2024, contract variation was implemented to include the provision
of support for young carers as part of a pilot initiative. This
amendment allows for the evaluation of the expanded service in
addressing the needs of both adult and young carers, with the pilot
set to run in line with the contract duration until 31st
March 2026.
 
Originally, the contract did not include
delivering statutory carers assessments. However, on the
1st June 2023, an additional contract variation to
include a pilot for undertaking these assessments was agreed.
 
This pilot was a success, and we have now
included this into the contract.
 
A review of the service, as well as
consultation with stakeholders and residents have informed the
development of the new all-age carers support service
specification.
 
The statutory duties to identify, assess, and
support unpaid carers are underpinned by key legislation, including
the Care Act 2014, which places duties on local authorities to
assess adult carers’ needs and provide appropriate
support.
 
For young carers, the Children Act 1989 and
the Children and Families Act 2014 require local authorities to
assess and meet their needs, ensuring their wellbeing, education,
and development are not negatively impacted by their caring
responsibilities.
 
These duties are further supported by guidance
such as Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and the
Children’s Social Care National Framework 2023, which promote
a whole-family, early intervention approach. Additionally, the
Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998 provide a broader
legal framework to ensure carers are not discriminated against or
disadvantaged due to their caring.
 
The recommendation for award of the All Age
Carers Support Service follows a comprehensive competitive
procurement process and rigorous evaluation to ensure high
standards and value for money.